Direction.
Judgment.
Delivery.
I bring strategic perspective, a practiced eye and the production experience to help a team do its best work.
Creative leadership, grounded in making.
I’m Richard Coelho, a creative director with more than 20 years of experience across brand, marketing, design, film and production. I’ve led an internal creative team, headed a marketing and communication function, and directed crews for commercial films and live experiences.
That range shapes how I lead. I can discuss positioning with a business leader, develop a visual direction with a designer, and work through the practical demands of a shoot with a production team.
Zapp
Led the internal creative team within a marketing and communication role.
Praça
Head of Marketing & Communication, working across a wider organisational structure; not all direct reports.
Film direction
Led project crews of different sizes, from compact productions to larger sets.
Event production
Led teams across event production and on-site delivery.
How I lead
I start by clarifying the audience, the business need and what the work must communicate. From there, I shape the creative direction, brief the people involved and keep the decisions connected as the project develops.
My teams have included in-house creatives, freelancers, agencies and production crews. At DHM, that meant aligning property teams, brand managers and external specialists around production priorities. At Praça, it meant working across marketing, commercial and operations.
What hands-on experience adds
I understand the work at the level where it gets made: design, photography, film direction, editing, artwork and physical production. It helps me give precise feedback, judge the trade-offs, and know when a specialist needs space to solve the problem.
I’m looking for a Creative Director or Head of Creative role where I can lead people, shape the direction and take responsibility for the quality of what reaches the audience.
Across brands, cultures and production environments
My experience spans hospitality, food and beverage, retail, telecommunications, music, events and branded content. I have worked with international collaborators across Europe, the United States, Africa and India.
I’m also advising one of the partners of MUVE | PHL on brand and positioning for a hotel venture in Philadelphia. This is an ongoing advisory project, with opening planned for 2028.
Location & availability
Based in the Lisbon area. Open to roles in Portugal, Philadelphia, New York and California, as well as remote opportunities. Available for on-site, hybrid or remote work.
U.S. and Portuguese citizen. Native English and Portuguese. Available for overlap with U.S. Eastern business hours.
Selected experience
Discovery Hotel Management — Content & Production Manager, 2026.
Live Nation Portugal — Graphic Designer, 2024–2025.
Praça — Head of Marketing & Communication, 2022–2024.
Peas Talent — Post Production Manager, 2020–2022.
Zapp — Field, Online & Communication Marketing / internal creative team leadership, 2006–2011.
Independent creative direction and production — project-based work since 2011.